Multiple-stand continuous rolling mills for the production of wire, light-section steel products and the like



Apnl 21, 1964 SCHULTE 3,129,617

MULTIPLE-STAND CONTINUOUS ROLLING MILLS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF WIRE, LIGHT-SECTION,

STEEL PRODUCTS AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 7, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR= Ek/cl/ SCHULTE" APYII 1964 E. SCHULTE 17 MULTIPLE-STAND CONTINUOUS ROLLING MILLS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF WIRE, LIGHT-SECTION,

STEEL PRODUCTS AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 r r OCI-IT-JLHEIL'L" a[ :l J I r- I i l l l I l kg AT; t-if:

1 T F l mu Q i \Q m o INVENTOR ERlcH 601411.11?

BY w/ 1 5 2% his m'rnuey April 21, 1964 E. SCHULTE 7 MULTIPLE-STAND CONTINUOUS ROLLING MILLS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF WIRE, LIGHT-SECTION,

. STEEL PRODUCTS AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 7, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 j 28 2 29 27: 25 26a 24 30 27b 3 g 26 24A m a 2; 30 za 2:

INVENTOR R/cI-l Sam/4T5 lzis nrroeusy United States Patent MULTIPLE-STAND CONTINUOUS ROLLING MILLS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF WIRE, LIGHT-SEC- TION STEEL PRODUCTS AND THE LIKE Erich Schulte, Dnsseldorf-Oherkassel, Germany, assignor to Siemag Siegener Maschineubau G.m.b.H., Dahlbruch, Germany Filed Jan. 7, 1960, Ser. No. 1,005 Claims priority, application Germany Jan. 7, 1959 13 (Ilaims. (CI. 80-35) The present invention relates to improvements in a multiple stand continuous rolling mill which is utilized in the production of wire from wire rods or in the manufacture of light-section steel products.

Recent types of rolling mills for the continuous production of wire or light-section steel products embody a number of complicated electric driving and control devices which greatly increase the cost of such apparatus. It is, therefore, very desirable to complete the periodically required conversions of the rolling mill to operation in accordance with a different rolling schedule or eventual repairs of certain component parts within shortest periods of time in order to reduce the attendant production losses. It was already proposed to connect the roll stands with their respective driving spindles by readily separable coupling assemblies in order to permit movements of each roll stand along its sole plate in a direction at right angles to the travel of goods. Such systems further utilize spare roll stands which are movable into the roll train as soon as a roll stand is removed therefrom.

According to another prior proposal, the rolling mill comprises two spare roll trains each of which may be utilized for the manufacture of wire with a given gauge. Such arrangement brings about considerable simplification in the construction of roll stands in each roll train because the roll lines, normally comprising two or more stands, do not require a number of dies for the so-called blind pass of processed material such as are invariably required in a roll line forming part of a roll train with a diversified rolling schedule, i.e., in a roll train which is utilized for the manufacture of difierent types of rolled articles. In addition, the control range of electric motors utilized for the operation of stands in spare roll trains is much narrower which also contributes to a reduction in cost of the entire wireor light-section steel producing rolling mill. While the just described assemblies can operate with comparatively low production losses because the main roll train also comprises twin roll stands in each of its roll lines, the provision of two spare roll trains and twin stands in the main roll train greatly increases the manufacturing and maintenance costs, and requires con siderable floor space for its installation.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a simplified rolling mill for the manufacture of wire and light-section steel products which can operate with a diversified rolling schedule and whose operation need not be interrupted when the rolling schedule is changed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rolling mill of the above outlined characteristics whose roll stands need not be disconnected from their drives even if moved out of their original roll lines into the roll lines of another roll train.

A further object of the instant invention is to provide a rolling mill which may be readily transformed from a single-train into a two-train rolling mill practically without any production losses.

A concomitant object of the invention is to provide a novel system for reciprocating the roll stands between a pair of parallel roll lines without interrupting the connection of roll stands with their power drives.

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An additional object of the invention is to provide a two-train continuous rolling mill which may be readily transformed into a single-train rolling mill.

With the above objects in view, the invention resides in a continuous rolling mill with a diversified rolling schedule, such as may be utilized for the production of wire of different gauges as well as for the production of lightsection steel products, wherein lengthy interruptions in operation and attendant production losses are avoided by the provision of roll stands which are movable in a direction at right angles to the travel of processed material to permit simultaneous movements of suitable material guiding and conveying assemblies into the roll lines without, however, requiring disconnection of roll stands from their drives. The roll stands of each roll train are disposed in one or more groups, hereinafter called roll lines, and a switch is provided in the conveyor system not only in advance but also in the rear of each roll line to permit rerouting of goods from the roll line or lines of one roll train toward the roll line or lines of the roll train which is formed by transversely displaced roll stands. The movements of a roll stand without interrupting its operative connection with the drive means are made possible by the provision of one or more extendable and contractible drive shafts of novel design each of which may be installed in the operative connection between a roll stand and its associated power drive, e.g., an electric motor or the like. The roll stand may be reciprocated by a double-acting cylinder and piston assembly which brings about a corresponding expansion or contraction of the aforementioned drive shaft and simultaneously shifts the guiding assembly which is to replace the stand in its roll train.

By moving one or more selected roll stands from the roll line or lines in one roll train, a series of roll lines may be formed which then constitute a second roll train parallel with the original train. Such arrangement enables the attendants to convert the roll lines of one roll train for operation according to a new rolling schedule while the second roll train remains in operation, or vice versa. The aforementioned switches enable the conveyors to move the goods from a roll line in one roll train to a roll line in the other roll train, to continuously advance the goods between and through the roll lines of one roll train, or to advance the goods only between and through the roll lines of the other roll train.

It is preferred to provide a single extendable drive shaft between the customary pinion frame and a reducing or intermediate gearing which is operated by the motor means of the respective roll stand. The pinion frame, the guide assembly and the roll stand are then connected with each other for simultaneous movements along a common sole plate, the movements being brought about by the aforementioned double-acting cylinder and piston assembly or an equivalent apparatus. Of course, it is equally possible to provide extendable drive shafts between the rolls in the pinion frame and the rolls in the roll stand; the pinion frame may then remain stationary while the guide assembly and the roll stand move with respect thereto when it is desired to move the roll stand transversely into and between its end positions in the roll lines of two parallel roll trains.

Each extendable drive shaft preferably comprises a spindle formed at its ends with toothed heads whose teeth are of convex configuration and mesh with internal teeth of two aligned coupling sleeves. One end of each sleeve is slidable along the spindle and is preferably slightly pivotable with respect thereto, e.g. by the provision of elastic inserts which simultaneously prevent the entry of dust or other foreign matter into the coupling sleeves. Means is provided for preventing complete withdrawal of the spindle from the coupling sleeves.

a Each sleeve preferably consists of two rigidly joined parts one of which is connected to a motion transmitting or receiving shaft so that the two sleeves, being in permanent rotation-transmitting or receiving connection with the spindle, transmit rotation from a driving shaft at one end of the spindle (e.g. the shaft which is driven by the motor of the respective roll stand) to a driven shaft at the other end of the spindle (e.g., the shaft connected to the pinion frame). The sleeves are slidable in the axial direction of the spindle to either increase or reduce the overall length of the composite drive shaft.

Suitable means, such as threaded spindles or the like, may be provided for permitting exact adjustments in the position of aforementioned guide assemblies in a roll line when the guide assemblies are moved into the roll lines to take the place and to fill the gaps developing in a roll train upon removal of the roll stands.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following detailed description of a specific embodiment when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is schematic top plan view of a continuous rolling mill embodying my invention whose first roll train consists of three roll lines, with all but one driving means and certain auxiliary components omitted for the sake of clarity, a second roll train which is formed by moving selected roll stands from the roll lines being shown in broken lines;

FIG. 2 is a greatly enlarged front elevational view of a roll stand with driving and reciprocating means therefor, further showing a guiding assembly which may replace the roll stand in its roll line;

FIG. 3 is an axial section through an extendable drive shaft forming part of the means for driving the rolls in a pinion frame and a roll stand; and

FIG. 4 is a partly side elevational and partly sectional view of a material guiding and conveying assembly which may replace a roll stand in the roll line.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawings, and first to FIG. 1, the number of roll stands 9 or 9 in each of the roll lines 1, 2, 3 or 1a, 2a, 3a (FIG. 2) is given only by way of example and may be varied depending upon the rolling schedule and the desired gauge of processed material. The rolling mill comprises an oven or baker 4 which heats the starting material, e.g., wire rods, to a desired temperature, and the heated wire rods are thereupon moved through the roll train consisting of roll lines 1, 2, 3 over suitable roller tables or like conveyors 5, 6, 7, respectively. The roller table 8 delivers finished products to a non-represented cooling table. The roll train shown in the lower part of FIG. 1 comprises three roll lines 1a, 2a, 3a which may be connected with each other or with the rolll ines 1, 2, 3 by a number of conveyors in a manner to be described in greater detail hereinafter.

In order to avoid production losses when the roll stands 2 9 of one or more roll lines 1, 2, 3 must be converted for operation according to a different rolling schedule, each of these roll stands is movable at right angles to the direction in which the goods advance to such an extent that it may be replaced in the respective roll line by a material guiding and conveying assembly 10 of the type shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. When moved from the roll train shown in the upper part of FIG. 1, the stands 9 assume the broken-line positions 9' indicated in the lower part of FIG. 1 and in FIG. 2. Thus, the roll line 1 which normally comprises five roll stands 9 may be transformed into a roll line comprising only three roll stands and two guiding assemblies 10. The thus formed roll line 1a of the roll train shown in the lower part of FIG. 1 then comprises the two roll stands 9' which were shifted at right angles to the direction of advance of goods from the roll train 1 in the rolling mill of FIG. 1. The roll lines 2a, 3a of FIG. 1 are formed in analogous manner. The attendants are now free to convert the roll lines 1, 2, 3 for operation according to a different rolling schedule while the roll lines 1a, 2a, 3a remain in operation, or vice versa.

If the roll stands 9 in the roll lines 1a, 2a, 3a continue to produce a wire or a like product, the wire rods delivered from the oven 4 onto the conveyor 5 may be deflected by a switch 11 onto a conveyor or roller table 12 which latter leads to the roll line 1a and thence to the second conveyor 6 between the roll lines 1, 2. A second switch 13 may deflect the goods from the conveyor 6 onto a conveyor 14- which leads to the second roll line 2a, i.e., the wire rods partially treated during the passage through the roll line in may be led along the conveyors 12', 6 into the roll line 2 or along the conveyors 12, 14 to the roll line 2a. A conveyor 14' extends to a third switch 15 in the conveyor 7 so that the partially processed material leaving the roll line 2 may be transferred by the conveyor 7 over the switch 15 (in the latters non-represented upper position) into the roll line 3 or over the switch 15 (in the position of FIG. 1) and along a further conveyor 16 which latter leads to the roll line 3a. It is also possible to guide the product from the roll line 2a along the conveyor 14', over the switch 15 and along the conveyor 16 into the roll line 312. A further conveyor 16 merges with the conveyor 8 and advances the finished products from the roll line 3a onto the cooling table. As before stated, the number of roll stands 9 in the roll train shown in the lower part of FIG. 1 depends upon the rolling schedule and may be varied as required.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the position of a roll stand 9 in full lines corresponds to its position in any one of roll lines 1, 2, 3 shown in FIG. 1. When shifted into one of roll lines 1a, 2a, 3a, the roll stand 9 assumes the broken line position 9a. A sole plate 18 supports the roll stand 9, the guiding and conveying assembly 10, the latters carrier 10a, and a pinion frame 17. The assemblies 9, 10 and 17 are rigidly connected to each other for movements with respect to the sole plate 18. The base 9A of the roll stand 9 is articulately connected with the rod 19 of a doubleacting piston (not shown) which is reciprocably received in a horizontal cylinder 20. The rolls in the pinion frame 17 are driven by a motor 22 through a coupling 21, an intermediate or reducing gearing 23 and a composite driving shaft 24 of variable length which latter is shown in greater detail in FIG. 3 of the drawings. This extendable shaft compensates for changes in the position of pinion frame 17 with respect to the motor 22 and coupling 21 when the interconnected assemblies 9, 10 and 17 are moved by the piston rod 19. The composite drive shaft 2 comprises a spindle 24A whose end portions or heads 24a, 24b are formed with one or more arcuate teeth 25 which mesh with axially parallel internal teeth of a twopiece coupling sleeve. One half of this sleeve consists of parts 26a, 26b which are rigidly connected to each other by screw bolts 28. Similar screw bolts 28 connect the parts 27a, 27b of the other sleeve half. The parts 26a, 27a preferably assume the form of comparatively short flanged rings connected to the shafts 23a, 17a of reducing gear 23 and pinion frame 17, respectively. The ends of shafts 23a, 17a are non-rotatably inserted into the members 26a, 27a, e.g., by shrinking or in any other suitable way. A flange 26c is welded onto the body of the ring 26a, and a similar flange 27c is welded to the other ring 27a. The outer ends of cylindrical sleeve portions 26b, 27b are formed with external flanges 29 which are connected to the flanges 26c, 270, respectively, by the aforementioned screw bolts 28. Flanges 2? may be welded to the portions 26b, 27b. The inner ends of cylindrical sleeve portions 26b, 27b carry inwardly extending annular end plates 30 whose bores are lined with elastic inserts 31 abutting against and slidable along the periphery of spindle 24A. The elastic inserts 31 and the convex teeth 25 permit the spindle 24A to assume a number of positions slightly out of axial alignment with the cylindrical sleeve portions 26b, 27b. In addition, the inserts 31 prevent entry of foreign matter into the interior of parts 26b, 27b.

The carrier a of the guiding and conveying assembly 10 shown in FIG. 2 comprises a downwardly extending projection or block 34 which is formed with a tapped bore for a spindle 32. The latter is rotatable in but is prevented from axial displacements with respect to a plate 33 slidably mounted atop the sole plate 18. By rotating the spindle 32 in clockwise or anticlockwise direction, the carriage 10a of the guiding assembly 10 is reciprocable along the driving spindles 36, 37 in order to move the assembly 10 into exact alignment with the roll stands 9 in one of the roll lines 1, 2, 3 shown in FIG. 1. Thus, the spindle 32 enables an operator to move the assembly 16 with respect to the stand 9 and frame 17 at right angles to the advance of goods. The threads 32a of the spindle 32 remain in constant mesh with internal threads in the horizontal bore of projection 34 on the carrier 10a. The purpose of shafts 36, 37 is to drive the rolls 3a, b of the roll stand 9.

If desired, a pair of extendable drive shafts similar to the member 24 may be provided between the pinion frame 17 and the roll stand 9 to rotate the latters rolls 9a and 9b. The shaft 24 may then be replaced by a simple shaft since the extendable drive shafts between the assemblies 17, 9 (replacing the drive shafts 36, 37) enable the stand to move along the sole plate 18 while the pinion frame 17 remains rigidly fixed to the sole plate. If desired, the guiding assembly 10 may be replaced by a conveyor section, i.e., a table section or requisite length, as long as the roll train remains uninterrupted upon removal of one or more roll stands.

When it is necessary to move a selected roll stand 9 from the roll line 1, 2 or 3 into one of the roll lines 1a, 2a, 3a, a fluid pressure medium from a non-represented source, controlled by non-represented valves of any known design, is introduced into the cylinder 20 of the selected roll stand in order to move the latter into the position 9'. The piston rod 19 shown in FIG. 2 then moves in the direction of arrow 35. Simultaneously with the movement of a roll stand 9 into the position 9', the corresponding guiding assembly 10 moves into the position 14) (FIG. 2) previously occupied by the roll stand. The guiding assembly 10 is formed with means 10b (see PEG. 4) for leading a partially treated wire rod 38 to the next roll stand 9 in the roll line 1, 2 or 3 of the roll train shown in FIG. 1. The roll stands 9' in lines 1a, 2a, 3:: may then be converted for operation according to a diiferent rolling schedule while the roll lines 1, 2 and 3 continue the processing of one or more wire rods, or vice versa.

If the cross-section of the conveyed material 38 is such that it cannot be bent or deflected, e.g., if the rolling mill is utilized for the production of light-section profiled steel stock, the material is heated in the oven 4 and is then conveyed by an additional roller table 12a to move in a straight line directly to the roll line In. It is also possible to provide straight conveyors in the form of roller table sections 12b, 161) between the roll lines 1a, 2a and 2a, 3a, respectively.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic and specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desire-d to be secured by letters Patent is:

1. In a rolling mill for the processing of wire rods and like materials, in combination, a plurality of roll lines each including a plurality of roll stands; conveyor means for moving the materials toward and between said roll lines; means for reciprocating the stands of said roll lines substantially transversely to the direction in which the materials are moved by said conveyor means; and material guiding means connected with each of said roll stands and movable by said reciprocating means into the respective roll lines when the corresponding roll stands are removed from the roll lines, the roll stands moved from said roll lines by the respective reciprocating means constituting a plurality of second roll lines.

2. A combination as set forth in claim 1, further comprising second conveyor means for connecting said first mentioned conveyor means with said second roll lines, and switch means in said first mentioned and in said second conveyor means for selectively permitting the materials to advance to said first mentioned and to said second roll lines.

3. A rolling mill for the processing of wire rods and like materials which comprises, in combination: a plurality of aligned roll lines each including a plurality of roll stands; conveyor means for moving the materials toward and between said roll lines; means for reciprocating the stands of said roll lines transversely to the direction in which the materials are moved by said conveyor means; material guiding means connected with each of said stands and movable by said reciprocating means into the respective roll lines when the corresponding stands are removed from the roll lines; and drive means for each stand comprising stationary motor means and drive shaft means of variable length operatively connecting the motor means with the respective stand, the stands moved from said roll lines by the respective reciprocating means constituting a plurality of second roll lines each parallel with one of said first mentioned roll lines.

4. A rolling mill for the processing of wire rods and like materials which comprises, in combination: a plurality of aligned roll lines each including a plurality of roll stands; conveyor means for moving the materials toward and between said roll lines; means for reciprocating the stands of said roll lines transversely to the direction in which the materials are moved by said conveyor means; material guiding means connected with each of said stands and movable by said reciprocating means into the respective roll lines when the corresponding stands are removed from the roll lines; drive means for each stand comprising stationary motor means and drive shaft means of variable length operatively connecting the motor means with the respective stand, the stand moved from said roll lines by the respective reciprocating means constituting a plurality of second roll lines each parallel with one of said first mentioned roll lines; second conveyor means for connecting said first mentioned conveyor means with said second roll lines; and switch means in said first mentioned and in said second conveyor means for alternately permitting the advance of materials to said first mentioned and to said second roll lines.

5. A rolling mill for the processing of wire rods and like materials which comprises, in combination: a plurality of aligned roll lines each including a plurality of roll stands; an oven for heating the materials to rolling temperatures; conveyor means for moving the materials from said oven toward and between said roll lines; means for reciprocating the stands of said roll lines transversely to the direction in which the materials are moved by said conveyor means; material guiding means connected with each of said stands and movable by said reciprocating means into the respective roll lines when the corresponding stands are removed from the roll lines; and drive means for each stand comprising stationary motor means and drive shaft means of variable length operatively connecting the motor means with the respective stand, the stands move-d from said roll lines by the respective reciprocating means constituting a plurality of second roll lines each parallel with one of said first mentioned roll lines.

6. A rolling mill for the processing of wire rods and like materials which comprises, in combination: a plurality of aligned roll lines each including a plurality of roll stands; an oven for heating the materials to rolling temperatures; a plurality of first conveyor means for moving the materials from said oven toward and between said roll lines; means for reciprocating the stands of said roll lines transversely to the direction in which the materials are moved by said conveyor means; material guiding means connected with each of said stands and movable by said reciprocating means into the respective roll lines when the corresponding stands are removed from the roll lines; drive means for each stand comprising stationary motor means and drive shaft means of variable length operatively connecting the motor means with the respective stand, the stands moved from said roll lines by the respective reciprocating means constituting a plurality of second roll lines each parallel with one of said first mentioned roll lines; a plurality of second conveyor means for connecting said first conveyor means with said second roll lines; and switch means in said first and second conveyor means whereby the materials may be advanced from said oven toward and between the first mentioned roll lines, from the oven toward and between the second roll lines, or between the first mentioned and second roll lines.

7. A rolling mill for the processing of wire rods and like materials which comprises, in combination: a plurality of aligned roll lines each including a plurality of roll stands; conveyor means for moving the materials toward and between said roll lines; means for reciprocating the stands of said roll lines transversely to the direction in which the materials are moved by said conveyor means; material guiding means connected with each of said stands and movable by said reciprocating means into the respective roll lines when the corresponding stands are removed from the roll lines, the stand moved out of said roll lines by the respective reciprocating means constituting a plurality of second roll lines each parallel with one of said first mentioned roll lines; and drive means for each stand, each drive means comprising stationary motor means, reducing gear means connected with and driven by the motor means, pinion frame means connected for movements with the respective stand, shaft means operatively connecting the pinion frame means with the respective stand, and an extendable drive shaft between said reducing gear means and said pinion frame means, said extendable shaft compensating for the movements of said pinion frame means and the respective stand when the latter is moved by its reciprocating means together with the corresponding material guiding means.

8. A rolling mill for the processing of wire rods and like materials which comprises, in combination: a plurality of aligned roll lines each including a plurality of roll stands; conveyor means for moving the materials toward and between said roll lines; a sole plate for each of said stands with each stand slidably mounted on the respective sole plate for movements in direction transversely to the direction in which the materials are moved by said conveyor means; a pinion frame and a material guiding assembly slidably mounted on each sole plate and connected with the respective stand for transverse movements with the latter; means for reciprocating each stand along the respective sole plate together with said pinion frame and said guiding assembly into and from the respective roll line whereby to move the guiding assembly into the roll line when the respective stand is moved out of the roll line; and drive means for each stand, said drive means comprising stationary motor means, reducing gear means connected with and driven by the motor means, extendable shaft means operatively connecting the reducing gear means with said pinion frame and adapted to compensate for changes in the position of said pinion frame with respect to said reducing gear 8 means, and shaft means for operatively connecting the pinion frame with the respective stand, the stands moved from said roll lines by the respective reciprocating means constituting a plurality of second roll lines each parallel with one of said first roll lines.

9. A rolling mill for the processing of wire rods and like materials which comprises, in combination: a plurality of aligned roll lines each including a plurality of roll stands; conveyor means for moving the materials toward and between said roll lines; double-acting cylinder and piston means for reciprocating the stands of said roll lines transversely to the direction in which the materials are moved by said conveyor means; material guiding means connected with each of said stands and movable by said cylinder and piston means into the respective roll lines when the corresponding stands are removed from the roll lines; and drive means for each stand comprising stationary motor means and drive shaft means of variable length operatively connecting the motor means with the respective stand, the stands moved from said roll lines by the respective cylinder and piston means constituting a plurality of second roll lines each parallel with one of said first mentioned roll lines.

10. A rolling mill for the processing of wire rods and like materials which comprises, in combination: a plurality of aligned roll lines each including a plurality of roll stands; conveyor means for moving the materials toward and between said roll lines; means for reciprocating the stands of said roll lines transversely to the direction in which the materials are moved by said conveyor means; material guiding means connected with each of said stands and movable by said reciprocating means into the respective roll lines when the corresponding stands are removed from the roll lines, each of said material guiding means comprising a carriage and means for shifting the carriage in transverse directions with respect to said roll lines; and drive means for each stand comprising stationary motor means and drive shaft means of variable length operatively connecting the motor means with the respective stand, the stands moved from said roll lines by the respective reciprocating means constituting a plurality of second roll lines each parallel with one of said first mentioned roll lines.

11. A rolling mill for the processing of wire rods and like materials which comprises, in combination: a plurality of aligned roll lines each including a plurality of roll stands; conveyor means for moving the materials toward and between said roll lines; means for reciprocating the stands of said roll lines transversely to the direction in which the materials are moved by said conveyor means; material guiding means connected with each of said stands and movable by said reciprocating means into the respective roll lines when the corresponding stands are removed from the roll lines, each of said material guiding means comprising a carriage and means for shifting the carriage in transverse directions with respect to and for adjusting the carriage in said roll lines, said shifting means comprising a projection on said carriage and a threaded spindle rotatably received in and meshing with said projection; and drive means for each stand comprising stationary motor means and drive shaft means of variable length operatively connecting the motor means with the respective stand, the stands moved from said roll lines by the respective reciprocating means constituting a plurality of second roll lines each parallel with one of said first mentioned roll lines.

12. A rolling mill for the processing of wire rods and like materials which comprises, in combination: a plurality of aligned roll lines each including a plurality of roll stands; conveyor means for moving the materials toward and between said roll lines; means for reciprocating the stands of said roll lines transversely to the direction in which the materials are moved by said conveyor means; material guiding means connected with each of said stands and movable by said reciprocating means into the respective roll lines when the corresponding stands are removed from the roll lines; drive means for each stand comprising stationary motor means and drive shaft means of variable length operatively connecting the motor means with the respective stand, the stands moved from said roll lines by the respective reciprocating means constituting a plurality of second roll lines each parallel with one of said first mentioned roll lines; and second conveyor means for connecting said second roll lines with each other and with said first mentioned conveyor means.

13. A rolling mill for the processing of wire rods and like materials which comprises, in combination: a plurality of aligned roll lines each including a plurality of roll stands; conveyor means for moving the materials toward and between said roll lines; a sole plate for each of said stands with each stand slidably mounted on the respective sole plate for movements in a direction transversely to the direction in which the materials are moved by said conveyor means; a pinion frame rigidly connected with each sole plate; a material guiding assembly slidably mounted on each sole plate and connected with the respective stand for transverse movements with the latter; means for reciprocating each stand along the respective sole plate together wih said guiding assembly into and from the respective roll line whereby to move the guiding assembly into the roll line when the respective stand is moved out of the roll line; and drive means for each stand, said drive means comprising stationary motor means, reducing gear means connected with and driven by the motor means, first shaft means operatively connecting the reducing gear means with said pinion frame, and extendable drive shaft means operatively connecting the pinion frame with the respective stand and adapted to compensate for the changes in position of said stand with respect to said pinion frame, the stands moved from said roll lines by the respective reciprocating means constituting a plurality of second roll lines each parallel with one of said first roll lines.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 351,841 Lenox Nov. 2, 1886 1,040,293 Edwards Oct. 8, 1912 1,647,668 Sheperdson Nov. 1, 1927 2,335,061 Haswell Nov. 23, 1943 2,370,984 Morgan Mar. 6, 1945 2,664,019 Henderson Dec. 29, 1953 2,697,335 Peterson Dec. 21, 1954 2,775,152 Krause Dec. 25, 1956 2,797,894 Hamann Apr. 9, 1957 2,937,431 Bongiovanni May 24, 1960 

1. IN A ROLLING MILL FOR THE PROCESSING OF WIRE RODS AND LIKE MATERIALS, IN COMBINATION, A PLURALITY OF ROLL LINES EACH INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF ROLL STANDS; CONVEYOR MEANS FOR MOVING THE MATERIALS TOWARD AND BETWEEN SAID ROLL LINES; MEANS FOR RECIPROCATING THE STANDS OF SAID ROLL LINES SUBSTANTIALLY TRANSVERSELY TO THE DIRECTION IN WHICH THE MATERIALS ARE MOVED BY SAID CONVEYOR MEANS; AND MATERIAL GUIDING MEANS CONNECTED WITH EACH OF SAID ROLL STANDS AND MOVABLE BY SAID RECIPROCATING MEANS INTO THE RESPECTIVE ROLL LINE WHEN THE CORRESPONDING ROLL STANDS ARE REMOVED FROM THE ROLL LINES, THE ROLL STANDS MOVED FROM SAID ROLL LINES BY THE RESPECTIVE RECIPROCATING MEANS CONSTITUTING A PLURALITY OF SECOND ROLL LINES. 